Nine Rogers Public Schools Honored with Reward Funds

The
Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with Arkansas State
Representative Dan Douglas and Arkansas
Learns, the private sector alliance for excellence
in public education, recognized nine high performing schools in Rogers June 10.
For the 2013-2014 school year, a total of 206 public schools in Arkansas were
recognized through the Arkansas School
Recognition and Reward Program.  The
program recognizes the top 20 percent of schools based on academic achievement,
academic growth and graduation rates. 
Schools in the top 20 percent received $45.35 per student this year;
schools in the top 10 percent received $90.70 per student.
Honor Ceremonies Held June 10
A total of $406,388.40 was rewarded to the nine Rogers schools for outstanding
performance.  The Chamber, Representative
Dan Douglas and Arkansas Learns
presented checks to Principals of the Reward Schools in honor ceremonies on
June 10 (see photograph with caption). 
Recipients of the Top 10% Reward Schools are Bellview Elementary,
Eastside Elementary, Reagan Elementary, Tucker Elementary, Elmwood Middle
School and Kirksey Middle School.  Also
honored as Top 20% Reward Schools are Lowell Elementary, Northside Elementary
and Benton County School of the Arts. “I am so proud of our schools and
their high achievement being recognized, ” said Dr. Janie Darr,
Superintendent of the Rogers Public Schools. 
“We’re encouraged by the Arkansas
School Recognition and Reward Program, and look forward to many of our
schools being rewarded in the future.”
Funds Helping Schools with Student
Achievement
Schools receiving recognition and reward funds established a committee to
determine the best use of the funds.  The
committee included the principal, a teacher elected by the faculty, and a
parent representative selected by the local Parent Teacher Association or other
parental involvement group.  The schools
may use the funds for faculty and staff bonuses, educational equipment and
materials, or personnel to assist with improving or maintaining student
performance.  “The funds are a great
benefit to the schools.  The committees
worked hard at assessing the needs of the schools and selected items that would
really help with student achievement, like technology,” said Dr. Darr.

Originally passed as part of the 2004’s Act 35, school rewards had never been
funded until
this year.  Act 1429 of 2013 revised the
program, and Act 703 of 2013 appropriated funding.
A total of $7 million from the governor’s allocation of the General Improvement
Fund was designated for the program this school year.  Arkansas
Learns championed annual funding in both the 89th General Assembly and the
recent Fiscal Session.  The Legislature
supported Beebe’s recommendation to fund the program with $7 million from the
General Revenue in school year 2014-15. 
For more information about the program visit ArkansasLearns.org.